Swift, strong reaction to Sotomayor vote

Here is some of the immediate reaction to Sonia Sotomayor’s confirmation to the Supreme Court:

Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J.:

“For Hispanic Americans, today, the mantle over the Supreme Court that says ‘equal justice under the law’ becomes one step closer to reality….We move one step closer to making this a more perfect union.”

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State Rep. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston:

“I am overjoyed by the confirmation of Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court. History will remember today as the day when the American judicial system caught up with salad bowl that is American diversity. When Justice Sotomayor takes her oath of office, it will serve as an everlasting reminder to young Latina women across our country that no dream is out of reach and that no glass ceiling is unbreakable.”

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Janet Murguía, President and CEO, National Council of La Raza:

“August 6, 2009 marks a watershed moment for this great nation, and it is a date that will quickly take hold in the memories of millions of Hispanic Americans of all ages and backgrounds. History was made today and our country will be the better for it.

“As was evident in her poised and thoughtful appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sotomayor will bring to the Supreme Court a compelling life story, 30 years of extensive experience in the law, 17 notable years on the federal bench, and a dedication to the Constitution and to the rule of law.

“Finally, our community has representation on the highest court in the land. For that reason and many others, this vote matters to Latinos and it matters to our country. Latinos will always remember who recognized the significance of this nomination and did everything possible to make this long-deferred dream a reality for the Hispanic community.”

To read our breaking news story on the Sotomayor confirmation vote and the Texas senators’ strong opposition, click here.

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Wendy Long, General Counsel, Judicial Confirmation Network:

“It’s remarkable, and a real show of strength for proponents of judicial restraint, that the negative vote on this nomination was so high. The ‘historic’ nomination of the first Hispanic nominee to the Court, made by the purportedly ‘post-partisan’ President Obama, who at the time enjoyed high personal popularity and was still in his post-inaugural honeymoon, with a commanding 60-vote supermajority of Democratic votes in the Senate, could not muster even close to the 78 ‘yes’ votes that Chief Justice John Roberts received. The 31 votes against Judge Sotomayor are the highest ‘no’ vote on any Supreme Court nominee picked by a Democratic president since 1894.

“And this record opposition to a Democratic nominee occurred on a straight up-or-down vote, following a nomination process that Judge Sotomayor herself said was fair and respectful; Republican Senators never stooped to the common Democratic tactics of personal attacks and obstruction. They asked tough questions, reflected thoughtfully, and discharged their constitutional job of ‘advice and consent’ promptly.”

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Texas State Representative Trey Martinez Fischer, Chairman of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus:

“I am pleased and proud to congratulate Judge Sonia Sotomayor on her confirmation to the Supreme Court of the United States; this is a landmark day for women and for Latinos alike. Judge Sotomayor was preeminently qualified for this position and I am pleased with the bipartisan support she was able to amass.

“As Chairman of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus for the Texas House of Representatives, I am disappointed that both Texas Senators chose to ignore her stellar record and judicial temperament to appease extreme factions within their own party. The symbolism of their rejection of the first Latino Supreme Court justice will undoubtedly be felt by the largest growing demographic of Texans that is sure to linger long after this historic achievement in our nation’s rich history.”

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State Rep. Representative Garnet F. Coleman, D-Houston:

“This is an historic moment for all Americans, and particularly for women and people of color. President Obama’s nomination and Senate confirmation of Judge Sotomayor has moved America forward, and reminded us that in this country all things are possible. Today is a day of celebration for all Americans.”

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Tom Saenz, incoming President and General Counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund:

“Justice Sotomayor’s eminent qualifications and wise committee testimony shattered a glass ceiling today. This tremendous accomplishment is only marred by the fact that so many senators chose to elevate partisanship and political pandering over principle by voting against her confirmation. History — and the fast-growing community of Latino voters — will judge these senators harshly.”

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Ed Whelan, president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, former clerk for Justice Scalia, former counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee:

“Given the dominant Democratic majority in the Senate, there was never any reason to doubt that virtually anyone whom President Obama nominated to the Supreme Court would be confirmed. What is striking is that Judge Sotomayor, despite her inspiring personal history and despite the powerful advantage of being the first Hispanic nominee to the Supreme Court, earned so many negative votes.

“And earn them she did: among other things, by her various statements contesting the judicial obligation of impartiality–a challenge mirrored in the lawless “empathy” standard for judging that President Obama used to select her; by recklessly mistreating the claims by New Haven firefighters that they had been discriminated against on the basis of race; by implausibly disguising herself as a judicial conservative at her hearing; and by providing positively deceptive testimony on a range of matters, including brazenly obscuring her support of freewheeling resort to foreign law to interpret the Constitution.

“Congratulations to the 31 Republican senators who stood on principle against Judge Sotomayor’s unsound vision of the judicial role and against her deceptive testimony.”

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Boyd Richie, Texas Democratic Party Chair:

“From her humble childhood to her extraordinary professional success, Justice Sonia Sotomayor worked hard to become the most qualified Supreme Court nominee in 100 years, proving once again that the American Dream is alive and well.

“The confirmation of Justice Sotomayor is a proud moment for all who believe in the promise of America. However, that pride does not extend to Texas’ two Republican senators, whose crass political opposition to Justice Sotomayor showed utter disregard for her outstanding qualifications.

“Texas Democrats proudly congratulate Justice Sonia Sotomayor on becoming the first Hispanic to serve on the Supreme Court, and we are confident she will serve with distinction and inspire generations of Americans who believe in justice and the rule of law.”

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For reaction from President Obama, lawmakers and more Hispanic organizations, click on the “continue reading” link immediately below.

Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.:

“It’s a great American story….I believe Sonia Sotomayor will become a great justice of the Supreme Court.

“She’s not just going to be another vote. She’s not just going to be another voice. She’s going to be a leader to move the Supreme Court back to the mainstream of this country.”

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Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.:

This IS the American dream.”

“If President Obama nominated Moses the lawgiver, they [many Republicans] would have voted no.”

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Michael Steele, chairman of the Republican National Committee:

“Judge Sotomayor will become the Supreme Court’s first Hispanic justice when the Court convenes in October – a historic milestone in our history, to be sure – but many Americans still are uncertain about her legal views, especially regarding the Second Amendment. The president nominated Judge Sotomayor because she shared his belief in judicial ’empathy.’

“Many have questioned how such a justice would decide cases that come before the Supreme Court. Now we will find out, and the American people will be able to decide if that is the standard they want in future Supreme Court nominees.”

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Ramona Romero, President of the Hispanic National Bar Association:

“Sonia Sotomayor is the product of dreams, perseverance, and determination. Her story is America’s story and her accomplishments are a reflection of what we can do in this country. From humble beginnings to the highest court in the United States, Sonia Sotomayor, with the help of a dedicated single mother and confidence in hard work now stands before the United States as the newest Supreme Court Justice.”

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David C. Lizarraga, Chairman of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce:

“The U.S. Senate deserves applause for recognizing Judge Sotomayor’s record of excellence and strong integrity. Her achievements in her life and career, against the many odds that were stacked against her, epitomize the strength of the American spirit. As a Supreme Court Justice, she will rule fairly and effectively, and provide a role model for generations to come,” said . “The fact that so many from one party were reluctant to recognize Judge Sotomayor’s impressive qualifications will be something our community is likely to remember.”

“Today’s confirmation of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court is a significant defeat for individual, property and gun rights. The Libertarian Party was the first political party to announce its opposition to Judge Sotomayor’s nomination, after reviewing her history on the bench.

“Judge Sotomayor’s ruling in cases such as Ricci v. DeStefano, overturned by the Supreme Court, violates the Libertarian belief in equality under the law. Judge Sotomayor’s ruling in cases such as Maloney v New York and United States v Sanchez-Villar violated basic rights protected under the Second Amendment. Judge Sotomayor’s ruling in Didden v. Village of Port Chester violated personal property rights and affirmed the power of government to confiscate property for purposes beyond public use. Judge Sotomayor also has a long and troubling history of ruling on cases based on personal feelings and prejudices, rather than the letter of the law.

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Sylvia Garcia, National Association of Latino Elected Officials Board President:

“Throughout her distinguished career, Judge Sotomayor has combined a profound respect for the rule of law with careful and thoughtful analysis of the law’s impact on the day-to-day realities of our diverse nation. Judge Sotomayor will now have the opportunity to demonstrate these qualities as an Associate Justice. We congratulate her as she moves forward to shape decisions that will have a fundamental and lasting impact on America’s future. We are deeply proud of the progress her confirmation represents for our community and the entire nation.”

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Cesar Perales, President and General Counsel of LatinoJustice, Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund:

“This is a very emotional moment for us and for the people we serve. When we started what was then the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund to protect the civil liberties of Latinos over 37 years ago, we would never have imagined that some day we would have one of our own on the nation’s highest court.”

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Charmaine Yoest, President and CEO of American United for Life:

“Americans United for Life applauds the 31 senators opposing Judge Sotomayor’s confirmation. It’s a stunning vote of ‘no confidence’ in a nominee whose background of abortion advocacy and record of judicial interventionism raise serious questions about her fitness for the high court. The number of senators opposing Sotomayor also sends the message that the next time there’s a vacancy on the Supreme Court, Americans will expect a nominee whose judicial philosophy upholds the Constitution not his or her own political ideology.”

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Wade Henderson, President of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights:

“The Senate’s confirmation of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court is a cause for celebration for all Americans. Judge Sotomayor will bring to the Court an intellectual brilliance, a wealth of legal experience, including 17 years as a federal district and appellate judge and eight years as an Assistant District Attorney in New York, and a compelling personal history of accomplishment. She is the embodiment of the American Dream.

“Her place on the Supreme Court as the first Hispanic American Justice is a significant advancement for the principle of equal opportunity and for American democracy. Along with a dedication to the rule of law, Judge Sotomayor understands from her own humble origins and hard work that the Court exists for one purpose – to provide equal justice for all.

“Justice Sotomayor is already an inspiration to millions of Americans, and we look forward to seeing her experiences and wisdom reflected in the work of the Supreme Court for many years to come.”

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Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif:

“I think it’s truly a great day for the Supreme Court. I think this is a great day for the law. It’s a great day for justice. It’s a great day for every young woman who is out there.”

“I want to thank the Senate Judiciary Committee, particularly its Chairman, Sen. Leahy — as well as its Ranking Member, Sen. Sessions — for giving Judge Sotomayor a thorough and civil hearing. And I thank them for doing so in a timely manner so that she can be fully prepared to take her seat when the Court’s work begins this September.

“The members of our Supreme Court are granted life tenure and are charged with the vital and difficult task of applying principles set forth at our founding to the questions and controversies of our time. Over the past 10 weeks, members of the Senate Judiciary Committee and the full Senate have assessed Judge Sotomayor’s fitness for this work. They’ve scrutinized her record as a prosecutor, as a litigator, and as a judge. They’ve gauged her respect for the proper role of each branch of our government, her commitment to faithfully apply the law to the facts at hand, and her determination to protect our core constitutional rights and freedoms.

“And with this historic vote, the Senate has affirmed that Judge Sotomayor has the intellect, the temperament, the history, the integrity and the independence of mind to ably serve on our nation’s highest court.

“This is a role that the Senate has played for more than two centuries, helping to ensure that “equal justice under the law” is not merely a phrase inscribed above our courthouse door, but a description of what happens every single day inside the courtroom. It’s a promise that, whether you’re a mighty corporation or an ordinary American, you will receive a full and fair hearing. And in the end, the outcome of your case will be determined by nothing more or less than the strength of your argument and the dictates of the law.

“These core American ideals — justice, equality, and opportunity — are the very ideals that have made Judge Sotomayor’s own uniquely American journey possible. They’re ideals she’s fought for throughout her career, and the ideals the Senate has upheld today in breaking yet another barrier and moving us yet another step closer to a more perfect union.

“Like so many other aspects of this nation, I’m filled with pride in this achievement and great confidence that Judge Sotomayor will make an outstanding Supreme Court justice. This is a wonderful day for Judge Sotomayor and her family, but I also think it’s a wonderful day for America.”